O.C. voices add to debate over weapons ban

Owner of Straightline Tactical in Anaheim Don Zappone has been out of tactical rifles in his shop since Dec. 20 and his distributors can not fill his requests for more rifles. Eighty percent of the rifles in Zappone's wall display are sold. KEN STEINHARDT, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

1994 Federal Assault Weapons Ban

The law, which expired in 2004, banned the manufacture, transfer and possession of 18 semiautomatic weapons identified by name as well as any weapons having two or more military-style features, such as flash hiders and folding rifle stocks.

The ban also prohibited magazines of more than 10 rounds of ammunition.

A 2004 report by the University of Pennsylvania said it was too early to definitively assess the ban's impact. The ban had not yet reduced the use of large-capacity magazines in crime, and since millions of assault weapons and magazines purchased before the ban were exempt, the effects would occur gradually. The ban expired the year that report came out.

Source: University of Pennsylvania

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At Straightline Tactical in Anaheim, Don Zappone specializes in handguns and rifles for self-defense and target shooting. Many of the all-black rifles in particular have a military look – but don't call them assault weapons.

"Assault weapons are already illegal in California," he said.

It's a term that means different things to different people, but this year lawmakers will again seek a definition in an attempt to regulate firearm sales. In the past, gun owners have balked at classifications as arbitrary. Safety advocates have in turn decried the many exemptions and potential for gun manufacturers to skirt the rules.

In Orange County, no matter the definition, talk of new standards is sending crowds to local gun stores and raising gun owners' concerns about their right to bear arms.

In accordance with existing state law, Zappone's merchandise is semiautomatic, so each pull of the trigger releases one bullet. Magazines may hold no more than 10 bullets. Certain models are unavailable. To newcomers, the black rifles might look intimidating, but Zappone said in terms of power they're comparable to hunting rifles.

Like many gun owners and sellers, Zappone is anxiously waiting to see how far new gun-control laws go. For now, Zappone said, sales are through the roof. If strict gun-control laws pass, a move he doubts will prevent crime, he's not sure he'll be able to stay in business.

"It could be anything from basically taking half to three-quarters of our product lines from the shelves."

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By November, California had already beat previous years' records in the number of criminal background checks completed related to firearms. Data goes back to 1998, when the FBI's National Instant Criminal Background Check System was launched. For all of 2012, the FBI reported 1.1 million firearm background checks in California, a 25 percent increase from the year before.

Sales have steadily increased in California over the past several years, according to the state Department of Justice, which tracks gun dealers' records of sale. Year-end totals from 2012 are not yet available, but as of August, 407,570 sales were reported – a number easily on track to surpass last year's sales as well as a record set in 1993, the year after the L.A. riots.

Spikes in sales are often tied to events, with sellers reporting large numbers after the 2008 and 2012 elections. At the time, buyers said they feared Democratic leaders would bring about more gun-control laws. Now, with an eye to preventing large-scale tragedies such as the Dec. 14 massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary School, legislators are considering a new assault-weapons ban. Local politicians are also working on a number of bills.

State Sen. Kevin De Leon, D-Los Angeles, announced last month his plan to require permits to buy ammunition. Permits would be valid for one year, and the holder would have to pass a background check.

State Sen. Ted Lieu, D-Torrance, would like the state to ensure that schools have emergency-response plans in place. Those not in compliance could have their funding withheld.

"When children attend public school, they are in the care of the state and we better make sure they are as safe as possible," he said in a statement.

State Sen. Leland Yee, D-San Francisco, is working on several gun-control bills, including one that would require yearly registration and background checks. Another would address safety requirements, and in December, he introduced a measure that would ban "bullet buttons" and "mag magnets," gun features that speed up the reloading of magazines. The legislation would also require that guns have a locked trigger and be stored in a lockbox when not in use.

Owner of Straightline Tactical in Anaheim Don Zappone has been out of tactical rifles in his shop since Dec. 20 and his distributors can not fill his requests for more rifles. Eighty percent of the rifles in Zappone's wall display are sold. KEN STEINHARDT, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Don Zappone holds two rifles. Both are the same semi-auto center-fire .223-caliber; however, one may look more intimidating, the Aero Precision AP15 at left, an AR-15 clone. The other is a Ruger Mini-14. Zappone is owner of Straightline Tactical in Anaheim, which specializes in the rifles. KEN STEINHARDT, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Before he opens his doors for business, Don Zappone, owner of Straightline Tactical, removes customers' sold rifles from his display in Anaheim. Like many gun owners and sellers, Zappone is anxiously waiting to see how far new gun-control laws go. KEN STEINHARDT, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
On display at Straightline Tactical in Anaheim, owned by Don Zappone, are pistols that are legal by California and federal standards. KEN STEINHARDT, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Although Jim Franks of Garden Grove does not own an AR-15-type rifle like the semiautomatic Colt M-4 carbine at left, he defends the right to own them. At right is a .22-caliber Remington single-shot rifle, the first he got as a kid. Franks competes in Cowboy Action shooting with vintage arms and trains more than 350 new shooters a year at Mike Raahauge Shooting Enterprises, in Corona. JEBB HARRIS, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Jim Franks chooses to use the military definition of an assault weapon, meaning one capable of fully automatic fire, noting that this Colt M-4, AR-15 type rifle is capable only of semiautomatic fire. JEBB HARRIS, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Jim Franks of Garden Grove fires his reproduction Marlin 1894 lever-action rifle at Mike Raahauge Shooting Enterprises in Corona. Franks, who competes in Cowboy Action shooting with the alias "Wells Fargo," says the 1894 rifle was the assault weapon of its day. The best shooter can fire 10 rounds in 1.5 seconds with it, he says. The Colt M-4 carbine at right belongs to the range master. JEBB HARRIS, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Gun owner and trainer Jim Franks believes some members of the public have a prejudice against the cosmetic look of certain guns. He notes both of these rifles are identical Ruger 10/22 semiautomatics, but the one with the black plastic stock in front gets more negative reactions. JEBB HARRIS, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Gun owner Jim Franks looks over a Colt M-4 carbine owned by a range master at Mike Raahauge Shooting Enterprises in Corona. Although he does not own an AR-15 type rifle, he defends the right of others to own them. JEBB HARRIS, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Jim Franks does not own an AR-15 type rifle, but has concerns that rifles like this Ruger Mini-14 will fall under future bans. JEBB HARRIS, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Owner Emily Atkinson looks over a Stag Arms 5.56 AR-15-type rifle at Ade's Gun Shop in Orange. Gun sales have been up since the Connecticut shootings. She can't keep AR-type rifles in stock, and many are sold before they arrive in the shop. Some are buying in anticipation of future bans. JEBB HARRIS, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
At Ade's Gun Shop in Orange, Emily Atkinson demonstrates how the 10-round magazine can be removed from a Stag Arms AR-15-type rifle using the tip of a bullet to depress the "bullet button." It is one of the features that makes the rifle California legal. JEBB HARRIS, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Owner Emily Atkinson shoulders a Stag Arms 5.56 AR-15- type rifle at Ade's Gun Shop in Orange. Gun sales have been up since the Connecticut shootings. JEBB HARRIS, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
The magazine from a California-legal Stag Arms AR-15-type rifle holds a maximum of 10 .223-caliber cartridges. Other states allow high-capacity magazines of 30 or more. JEBB HARRIS, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
At Ade's Gun Shop in Orange, the racks are mostly empty of AR-15-type rifles. Owner Emily Atkinson, at left, can't keep AR type rifles in stock, and many are sold before they arrive in the shop. JEBB HARRIS, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Ade's Gun Shop salesman Greg Baetz discusses the features of a California-legal AR-15-type rifle with a customer in the Orange shop. JEBB HARRIS, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Gun shopper J.C. Scruggs of Westchester looks over an AR-15-type rifle in Ade's Gun Shop in Orange. He had come in to pick up a rifle he previously purchased, his first. JEBB HARRIS, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Salesman Greg Baetz shoulders a California-legal Stag Arms AR-15-type rifle in Ade's Gun Shop in Orange. JEBB HARRIS, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Don Zappone, owner of Straightline Tactical in Anaheim fields phone calls for tactical rifles in which he has been sold out of since Dec. 20. His distributors are unable to fill his orders because of the high demand. KEN STEINHARDT, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Don Zappone, owner of Straightline Tactical in Anaheim receives a delivery of shotguns he ordered over two weeks ago. Before the election and the Sandy Hook Elementary mass shooting in Connecticut, Zapone explains, his orders were usually at his door in three days. KEN STEINHARDT, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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